Shopify has recently improved its Point of Sale (POS) system with an exciting update that retailers have been waiting for. You can now apply and save all types of discounts to draft orders in Shopify POS, giving store staff more flexibility when serving customers. This feature enhancement makes the in-store experience match the capabilities that were previously only available for online stores.
What’s new with discounts on POS draft orders
In the past, draft orders in Shopify POS only supported custom or manual discounts, which limited how staff could handle special situations. Now, any discount you create in your Shopify admin can be applied to draft orders at your physical store. This includes line item discounts that apply to specific products, order discounts that apply to the entire purchase, buy-one-get-one offers, shipping discounts, discount functions, and even combinations of different discount types.
This update is particularly helpful for shops that frequently deal with phone orders, custom orders, or high-value items that customers want to put on hold. Staff can now save these orders with the proper discounts applied, creating a smoother checkout experience when the customer returns.
How to apply discounts to draft orders in POS
Using this new feature is straightforward. First, you’ll need to create or access a draft order. You can do this from your Shopify admin by going to the Orders section and then selecting Drafts. From there, you can either click on an existing draft order or create a new one for your customer.
Once you’re in the draft order, look for the Payment section and click on “Add discount.” You’ll see an option to “Apply all eligible automatic discounts” which you can check to apply any automatic discounts that would normally be available. If your customer has a discount code, you can also manually enter it at this stage.
After you’ve applied the discounts, make sure to save the draft order so all your changes are retained. When the customer is ready to complete their purchase, your staff can retrieve the order from the Shopify POS app by tapping on Orders and then Drafts. They’ll select the relevant draft order and proceed with the checkout process, with all discounts already applied.
Requirements for using this feature
It’s worth noting that this enhanced discount functionality isn’t available on all Shopify POS plans. You’ll need to be using POS Pro to access this feature. Additionally, staff members need to have the appropriate permissions to apply discounts to draft orders, so you may need to check your staff account settings if you’re having trouble.
Benefits for retailers
This update offers several advantages for retail businesses. It creates consistency between your online and in-store operations, so staff don’t need to learn different discount procedures. It also improves the customer experience by ensuring that promised discounts are properly recorded and applied when the sale is finalised.
For businesses that frequently deal with special orders or hold items for customers, this feature eliminates the need for workarounds or manual adjustments at checkout time. Everything can be set up in advance, making the final transaction quicker and more accurate.
Conclusion
The ability to apply all types of discounts to draft orders in Shopify POS represents a significant improvement for retailers using the platform. It bridges a gap between online and in-store capabilities, giving staff more tools to serve customers effectively. Whether you’re handling phone orders, creating custom packages, or putting high-value items on hold, you can now ensure that all applicable discounts are properly recorded and applied when the sale is completed.
If you’re using Shopify POS Pro, take advantage of this feature to streamline your in-store operations and provide a better experience for both your staff and customers.
